Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sports

Racing with the enemy

Good-looking, talented and rich, Jeff Gordon remains the most hated man in NASCAR

PHOTO: Sports_Jeff Gordon_022408
CREDIT: Marc Serota/Getty Images

CREDIT: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. enjoy a friendly chat in 2006.

By Hunt Archold

It’s less than 40 hours after this year’s running of the Daytona 500, and Jeff Gordon is sitting amongst a small group of reporters at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The offseason buildup to snag his fourth Daytona win has just been blown like a cut tire down the back straightaway, and Gordon—who started the race in eight position before finishing 39th due to suspension failure—is wondering what might have been while doing a so-so job of hiding his Daytona disappointment.

But Gordon, who’s been racing with NASCAR since 1992, knows that the season is long.  And with the support of powerful Hendrick Motorsports, the chance that he could win a fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship is an unquestionable reality.

“We’ve come out of Daytona with bad finishes before,’’ Gordon tells The Sunday Paper when asked about his current psyche. “It’s not the end of the world.”

No, it’s not. Not when you’re Jeff Gordon, the 36-year-old veteran still referred to as “Wonderboy.” Sure, he’s won more than his share of races, and he’s got the money to prove it (he’s the Series’ all-time winnings leader with more than $93 million). Yes, he’s got the Hollywood good looks, and hosting duties on “Saturday Night Live” and “Live with Regis and Kelly” under his belt.

He’s highly regarded as a philanthropist, as well: The evangelical Christian is one of NASCAR’s most active drivers on behalf of charitable causes with his Jeff Gordon Foundation, which supports charities on behalf of children in need. And don’t forget his über-gorgeous wife, Belgian-born model Ingrid Vandebosch, who last June gave birth to their first child, Ella Sofia Gordon.

And, of course, there are the legions of fans. Yes, for Jeff Gordon, life is good.

MORTAL ENEMIES

But make no mistake, he has his detractors, too. More like haters, really. Some of them are simply jealous of Gordon for all the reasons listed above. But more than that, many of his most vocal critics have never forgiven him for—well, for winning.

Jeff Gordon made his Cup debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway 15 and a half years ago, in a race that was more recognized at the time for being racing giant Richard Petty’s last. And almost immediately, the young upstart began challenging the great Dale Earnhardt Sr. for supremacy in the sport. Never mind that Gordon and the immensely popular Earnhardt were friends off the track. In the minds of the Earnhardt Nation, the two were mortal enemies. Fans cheered when Earnhardt’s black No. 3 Chevrolet won, but they just might have cheered a little louder when Gordon’s rainbow-colored No. 24 Chevrolet lost.

At the track and on the Internet, the mushrooming notion that Gordon was one notch short of the antichrist became big business. T-shirts, flags, decals and other assorted memorabilia asserted that Gordon was indeed pure evil. Fans questioned his sexual preference, and the bile that was directed his way was unprecedented. Even racers such as Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip didn’t receive as much ill will when they won at an early age.

Even when Earnhardt tragically died at Daytona seven years ago, and the line of delineation was passed to his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., fans continued despising Gordon. Despite the highs and lows he’s experienced on the track since then, Junior remains, without question, the sport’s most popular driver. Gordon, meanwhile, hasn’t won a points championship since 2001 (he’s since finished second twice and fourth twice), but has maintained his status as the most disliked driver on the circuit.

After winning the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway last April, tying Earnhardt Sr. for sixth place on the Cup Series’ all-time win list, Gordon did a victory lap while waving an Earnhardt No. 3 flag out the window of his car in what he said was a gesture meant to honor the late champion. The next week, at Talladega International Speedway—on what would have been Earnhardt’s 56th birthday, no less—Gordon passed Earnhardt on the list. And the Earnhardt Nation showed its disapproval by pelting Gordon’s car with beer cans, toilet paper and other debris as Gordon did a victory spinout in front of the grandstand.

DALE JR. AND THE DEVIL

Those fans were in for the shock of their lives last June when Dale Jr. announced he was leaving Dale Earnhardt, Inc., for Hendrick Motorsports—Jeff Gordon’s team. How could Junior be teammates with the Devil himself?

Again, though, those fans overlook the fact that Gordon and Junior have a little mutual admiration society going—just as Gordon and Earnhardt Sr. shared a mutual respect.

“He’s awesome,” Gordon says rather convincingly about his new teammate. “I’m pretty excited about having him on board. During the debriefing after testing and practice sessions; anytime we’re in a room talking, he’s been great. He’s kind of a new kid, excited and having fun.”

And that enthusiasm seems to be paying off for Hendrick Motorsports. Yes, Earnhardt’s ninth-place finish at Daytona extended his Cup Series winless streak to 63 races. But it was also the highest finish among the Hendrick cars, including two-time defending series champ Jimmy Johnson (27th), Casey Mears (35th) and Gordon. Not that Daytona was a total waste for Earnhardt; he won his 125-mile qualifying race, as well the season-opening specialty event, the Budweiser Shootout. 

While Earnhardt’s fans might not feel the same, Gordon anticipates an enjoyable and winning partnership with his new teammate. The two marquee drivers will be vying for the checkered flag at the March 9 Kobalt Tolls 500 at AMS.

“Anywhere Junior is there is going to be a lot of attention,’’ says Gordon, admitting he’s had more Earnhardt fans approach him this year for autographs than ever before. “I think the way Junior has handled it has been the biggest surprise. He’s so down to earth and humble. He doesn’t have an ego.”

That may be true off the track, but there’s no question that these teammates, who in the minds of fans are supposed to be heated enemies, have only one thing in mind once the green flag drops.

“On the track, we’ve never had any issues,” Gordon says. “We’ve worked together and tried to beat one another and I haven’t seen that change.’’

At least the Earnhardt Nation can hang their No. 88 hats on that. SP